Gauging device



Patented Oct. 23, 1945 UNITED STATES: PATENT OFFICE GAUGING DEVICE Edwin H. Birdsall, Golden, 0010., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.,a corporation of Delaware Application July 29, 1943, Serial No. 496,539 6 Claims. (01. 209-90) The present invention relates to a gauging'device, particularly for gauging the length of elongated articles, such for instance as cartridge shells, and has for an object to provide such a gauging device by means of which the articles are successively fed into relation with automatic gauging means and are selectively ejected, those articles of standard length or greater being ejected in one path to suitable receptacle means, while those articles of less than standard length are ejected in another path to suitable receptacle means. It is to be understood that by proper setting, the device also may be used to separate standard length articles from articles greater than standard length.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gauging device which will not depend upon the human equation, butwill separate all shells of greater than a predetermined length from short shells.

A further object is to provide a gauging device which may be adjusted with precision for the gauging of anypredetermined standard length Within a limited range.

Another object is to provide a gauging device which may be readily incorporated in present types of twin screw inspection machines, without appreciable alteration therein.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away, of an inspection machine incorporating the gauging device, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, and showing one of the cartridge shells in its position as it is fed along the twin screw feed elements toward the gauging device.

Fig. 2 is an and elevation.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan View of the bracket sup port of the gauging device, removed from the machine, and with the parts normally supported thereby removed therefrom.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the end of the lower feed screw, showing the cam element of the gauging device attached thereto.

Fig. 6 is a-perspective view of the cartridge shell guide element of the gauging device.

Fig. '7 is an end elevation showing a cartridge shell of sub-standard height in relation to the gauging device and showing indot-and-dash lines its position during ejection.

Fig. 8 is an end'elevation showing a cartridge shell of-normal height in relation to the gauging device and showing in dot-and-dash lines its positions during ejection.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing,'the twin screw inspection machine, shown by way of example, and

' extending twin screw elements l4 and I5, having their axes disposed in a plane at an angle of sub stantially to the horizontal base, these twin screw elements being provided at one end with meshing gears l6 and I! respectively, driven by a drive pinion [8. The pitch of the upper screw isin opposite directionof the lower screw and preferably the concave screw channel of the upper screw is narrower than that of the lower screw. Forwardly of the twin screw elements there is provided a horizontal mirrored guide l9, having its supporting base plate l9 mounted -upon brackets 20 and 2|, and provided at its inner edge with a substantially 90". angle V-groove 221 having its inner wall in a plane substantially at a 45 angle and in line with the bases of the screw channels of the twin screw elements, so that it supports the periphery of the circular heads of the cartridge shells A as they are transported by the twin screw elements from one end to the other;

while the other wall supports the .end surfaces of the heads.

Adjacent the bearing standard l2, at :a point where the cartridge shells complete their traverse along the twin screw elements, the gauging device of the invention is provided, the illustrated exemplary embodiment thereof comprising a supporting bracket consisting of a horizontal basebar 23, of rectangular cross-section, having secured at its inner side adjacent its rearward end a vertical bar 24, provided near its upper end and upon its forward side with a forwardly projecting bearing extension 25. The base bar 23 is adapted to be secured to the base IQ of the machine by a screw 26.

Within a horizontal passage 21 in the bearing portion 25 there is engaged a lever supporting shaft 28, provided intermediate its ends with an integrally formed flange 29 bearing upon the out- 1 er surface upon the bearing portion 25, one

posed stop screw 35 adjustably screwed-in a hori I zontally projecting lug 36 secured 111 .1 1?

bracket member 24, the screw being fixed in its adjusted position by means of a lock nut 31...'The

lever 32 is free to move upwardly in the event a malformed shell is passed through, so as'to prevent damage to the gauging element. The lever is made of suflicient weight to return to an accuv rately located position and remain there when standard shells are gauged, I

To the forward end of the base bar 23 there is s ur a ide ember 38 hav n a t in marginal edg a veeroeve 39; ada t d to b posit tiened in exa eehti i'e ie oi th e ee no: the mirrored guide, and extending beyond the end 9f h m r i e te th he e th wi eere e me ts and s bet htie f rwerii y in th transverse vertical plane of the gauging lev 32. T g de member is rev e l w th a helzenm rhehhtihe le e't. 'e e ht ieh. havin slots 4 hge. he eed ll Q t e eiirhert e. bas we 9f th .m b i lit ide, al Whieh itis secur d y er e ngaged i es ets 4.1-. The guide membe may hus. be -i ,ly and exactly ali n d th he mi o ed e iter bein seeuredin i$. mes-her he sleet Z1 the guide member i .ee h ed e he ierwerd ehdef t seb weaned a v rt ea de ending plate portion 413 provided with a slot 44, engaged vbya head screw 4i revved into the endofthebase bar, this l1 permitti g thesecuring of. the guide e ent, w thout. d.istiiibi n its aligned relation 1 they-groove 215 The horizontal mounting on 4Q provided. at. its outer edge with a lofl i jllqinally extending finger. extension-46, d-isposed iorward-ly in the vertical plane of the 83 .1 lever 3.2 and defining the forward side of opening 41 in the. uide. member disposed orwa d yeithe. v=groov therein. e inen. the/end. of the lowerscrew element l-- there is provided a. projecting cam plate 48 in the form of; a cylindricallycurvedtriangular shaped member adapted to fit the cylindrical surface of thescrew threads, its inner wall 49' being inclined to. conform. to the edge or: the thread portion upon. which it is engaged and being secured thereon by means oiscrews 50-. The relatively wide forward shellengaging surface 5| ofthe cam is parallel to the. axis of the screw and is disposed in the vertical plane of the gauge lever The. operation is as follows In. operation the articles to be gauged, as for instance, the cartridge shells A, are placed with their header-ids engaged in the mirror guide chan neland theirside'walls'resting in, inel inje d re. lation in the grooves of the twin screw elements [44, it and L5, asuccession of the articles in side-by-"side relation beingfed by the rotation of the screws from left to right along the mirror guide groove as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, wherein one o f the. cartridge hand end-of the screw elements, they move inithe \L-groove 39; of the guide element 38 and are engaged by the rotating cam 48 of the lower screw element, which causes the shell to swing or pivot about its lower relatively heavy end supported within the V-groove, the inclination of the shell and the weight of its head end maintaining it in the groove as it pivots. The gauging rib 34 of the gauging lever 32 is disposed in relation to the arc of movement of the upper end of the swinging cartridge-shell, so that in the case'of one less than standard length, its upper end clears the gauging "rib and thus continues in its swinging movement imparted thereto by the continued movement of the cam. As it swings over dead center,

. with its .head end still engaged with the V-groove,

its side wall comes into contact with the finger 46 at a point sufiiciently near the head end so that the outer end overbalances the head end, the shell thereupon falling at the outer side of the finger, asindica-ted by the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 7, nt a suitab e r eptac e, a suitab g id er chute mean b ing n ie bly provided in relation t the n er,

In the case of a cartridge She l f Standard length the m sw gs. the she l to the point Where its upper end contacts the gauging rib 34 of the auge l er, h s arresting t winging m ve en f th upp r nd, so that c ntinu d move: me it h am u es e lower e d end of h cartridge shell to be swung. outwardly about its upper end as a pivot to the; point Where it is disen a e f om e -eroove droop n ver t e e Qi t e roove downwardly thro h he opening 41, as indicated by the dot-and-dash lines Fig. 8, into a suitable receptacle, A suitable de chute me ns is preferably provided in io o he o ening 4.1.

In order to prevent jams it is. preferable. to locate the rib 34; relative to the V-groove 39 so that the plane of the mouth of the shell, which lies at right angles to the axis of said shell, will be at an angle of less than to the radius or rotation at the gau ing point. The supportin edge for instance should be a predetermined distance from the center of the head, andon. the opposite side, of e cen er in rom the side of the. she which en a e th rib. 34..

If desired the gauging operation may be carried, out by similar apparatus upon, cartridge shells to separate shells of shorter than standard length,

In this case the shells. which clear the gauge lever and re l te at t ou e side of t e fi sr; 46; will be those of less than standard length while those which engage the gauge leverand drop. through the opening 41 will beacceptable shells of standard length, Two of the devices may be sed together if desired,

The form of the invention illustrated the aw ng and dese i ed erein is, trpicalandilliistrative only, and itis evident thatthe inventio, is capable of embodiments in other forms, all falling; within the scope of the appended, claims;

What is claimed is:

1. In a gauging device, articlesupportingmean adapted to, pivotally support an article to be gauged in inwardly. inclined relationcam means; arranged to. engage and swing said article out; Wardly upon said supporting means as a p t beyond the vertical dead center line, au e; means disposed in relation tothe arc of swinging; mqve-. ment of said article. at a, point inwardly cf said vertical dead center lineadapted to contact an article of more than a predetermined len th to arrest its swinging movement-whereby continued movementof said cam means is. adapted to false, engage said article from said supporting means to effect ejection in a given ejection path, an article unengaged by said gauge means adapted to continue its swinging movement whereby it is ejected in a difierent ejection path.

2. In a gauging device, article supporting means adapted to pivotally support an article to be gauged, movable actuating means arranged to engage and swing said article upon said supporting means as a pivot, gauge means disposed in relation to the arc of swinging movement of said article adapted to contact an article of more than a predetermined length to arrest its swinging movement whereby continued movement of said actuating means is adapted to disengage said supporting means to effect ejection in a given ejection path contiguous to said supporting means, abutment guide means spaced from said supporting means a distance less than the length of the balancing point of said article from its supported end, an article unengaged by said gauge means adapted to continue its swinging movement into engagement with said abutment means whereby it is ejected in a different ejection path.

3. In a gauging device, longitudinally grooved movement whereby it ejection path.

4. In a gauging device, longitudinally grooved article guide means, article supporting means having a guide groove in continuation of said guide means and adapted to pivotally support an article to be gauged, feed screw means parallel to said guide means adapted to feed said article in rearwardly inclined relation, cam means carried by said ieed screw means arranged to engage and swing said article upon said supporting means as a pivot, auge means disposed'in relation to the arc of swinging movement of said article adapted to contact an article of more than a predetermined length to arrest its swinging movement whereby continued movement of said cam means is adapted to disengage said article from said guide means to effect ejection in a given ejection path, an article unengaged by said gauge means adapted to continue its swinging movement whereby it is ejected in a diiferent ejection path.

5. In a gauging device, cartridge shell supporting means adapted to pivotally support a shell to be gauged, a rotating cam actuating means arranged to engage and swing said shell upon said supportingmeans as a pivot, gauge means disposed in relation to the arc of swinging movement of said shell adapted to contact a shell of more than a predetermined length to arrest its swinging movement by said cam whereby continued movement of said actuating means is adapted to disengage said article fromsaid supporting means to effect ejection in a given ejection path, a shell unengaged by said gauge means adapted to continue its swinging movement under the r ence of said rotating cam whereby it is ejected in a different ejection path, said pivot and gauge means being located relative to each other so that the plane of the end of the shell adjacent the gauge is less than relative to the radius of rotation of the article at point of en'- gagement with the gauge.

6. In a gauging device, article supporting means adapted to pivotally support an article to be gauged, a gauge member spaced from said support and adapted to engage an overlength article, rotating actuating means disposed in operative position to swing said shell about said supporting means to discharge the same in one path should said article be engaged by said gauge so as to interrupt its swinging movement and into a second path should said article not be engaged by said gauge and is free to continue in its rotation by said rotating means.

EDWIN H. BIRDSALL. 

